Automatically oscillated mounting for earthworking elements



Feb. 15, 1955 c. w. JENNINGS I AUTOMATICALLY-OSCILLATED MOUNTING FOR EARTHWORKING ELEMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1951 CHARLES JENNINGS Feb. 15, 1955 c. w. JENNINGS 2,701,994

AUTOMATICALLY-OSCILLATED MOUNTING FOR EARTHWORKING ELEMENTS Filed April 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIM" Mimi-ulna lilw um NII 3nventor CHAR LES W. JENNINGS Gttomeg;

C. W. JENNINGS AUTOMATICALLY-OSCILLATED MOUNTING FOR EARTHWORKING ELEMENTS Feb. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1951 FIG. ll.

I, mummm mmuumww' w w .-h b w a w w A I /P. {S 9 BW W Hum Bnventor CHA'RLES W. JENNINGS attorney United States AUTOMATICALLY OSCILLATED MOUNTING FOR EARTHWORKING ELEMENTS This invention relates to earthworking machinery and more particularly to such machinery which includes earthworking elements, such as shares or points, which are automatically movable in order to overcome certain conditions encountered in earthworking operations.

An important object of the invention is to provide earthworking machinery as described wherein automatically-oscillated mounting means is provided to enable the earthworking elements, such as shares or points, to ride over obstructions in or on the earth or ground and reset themselves in normal positions for work after the obstruction has been passed.

Another important object is to provide the means just referred to, wherein the operation is rapid and positive, so that damage to the earthworking elements themselves, their connections with the rest of the earthworking machine or a tractor, for example, as well as the machine itself will not be apt to occur.

A further important object is to provide such means which may be readily mounted upon a support as the conventional tool bars of tractors, so that one or a plurality of earthworking elements may be employed. Such mounting generally entails no alterations in the conventional tool bar. On the other hand, the mounting may be made, employing a suitable substantially horizontallyextending support of a suitable frame structure.

Furthermore, a very important object is to provide such means which is so constructed and arranged that the earthworking element or elements will be found very easy to pull,;for the reasons subsequently explained.

Additionally, an important object is to provide a beam, as apart of the means, which is adapted to support or mount various types of earthworking elements, such as shares, points, sweeps and so-called middle busters.

Other objects and advantages of the. invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming parts of this disclosure, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the new mounting means for an earthworking element in its normal position and shown as a point, and with the means carried by a tractor beam shown in vertical transverse section.

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to that of Figure 1 but with'theearthworking element, having encountered an obstruction, being moved away from it.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portions of the new mounting means and an example of an earthworking element associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the new mounting means. I

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is a vertical section substantially on the line 6-.-6 of'Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a section substantially on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the new mounting means, showing a modification of a atent bracket for securely attaching the means we suitable horizontally-disposed support, shown in transverse cross section. I V

Figure 9 is a plan view of the bracket and associated structure of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an. enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the new mounting means, supported as in Figure 1..

Figure li'is a top plan view of three of the new means,

carried by the tractor bar of a tractor shown in fragmentary top plan.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and mounted upon a portion of a vehicle designated asv C by the mounting means D of Figure 9, or in the event a different shaped portion of the vehicle is employed, by the mounting means E of Figure 8. The letter F designates an obstruction.

The new automatically-oscillated mounting means A includes a main or first frame 15, fixed with respectto the vehicle C and connected to one end portion of a beam' 16, by link means 17, with the frame 15 also providing a guide and abutment for the beam 16, a support for bumper means 18 and for one end of a reset means 19 for the beam and earthworking element, while the beam 16 is also pivotally connected with a sub-frame 20 fixed with respect to the vehicle C and carries a set means 21 for the beam 16 and element B, as well as means 22 to mount an earthworking element B thereon.

The main frame 15, best shown in Figure 3, includes a pair of spaced-apart, elongated and substantially parallel members 25, preferably L-shaped in transverse section and may be angle irons, with one portion 26 thereof being upwardly-extending and the other portion 27 thereof extending outwardly from the lower end of the portion 26. The two members 25 are rigidly secured, intermediate their lengths, by a spacer member 28 which also functions as a support for a bearing 55 forming part of the bumper means 18 and this bearing may be welded to and extend crosswise of the upper face of the member 28.

Conventional securing means 29 may be employed to' rigidly secure the members 25 and 28 together by providing suitable aligning bolt shank-receiving openings in the members 25 and 28 to receive the shanks of bolts,

with their heads bearing against the outer face of one portion 26 and the nuts threaded to the shanks and bearing against the outer face of the other portion 26. In addition, the frame 15 includes a combined cross suitable securing means 31, such as bolts and nuts with the shanks of the bolts extending through suitable align: ing bolt shank-receiving openings in the member 30 and portions 27 with the heads of the bolts and suitable nuts drawing the parts together in a rigid manner. It will be noted that at least a portion of the edge 32 of the member 30 is beveled as at 33 to provide an area, rather than a line, contact of an arm 43 of the beam 16, next to be described, with the member 30. From the foregoing and Figures 3, 4 and 5, it will be apparent that between the members 28 and 39 there is a slot 34 defined by parts of the portions 26, to receive the aforesaid arm 43.

Figure 3 also illustrates the preferred beam 16 which is, preferably, a single casting or the like comprising an earthworking element-carrying and forwardly-extending lowermost arm 46, a link-connected rearwardly-extending uppermost arm 41, both being elongated and merging into each other at the portion 42 of the beam 16 and from this portion 42 extends a third arm 43, being an elongated pivoted arm. The arm 43 forms an acute angle with the arm 40 and an obtuse angle with the arm 41 and from the arm 43, preferably just above its juncture with the portion 42, there is a projection 44 provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings 45 to receive portions of means to selectively secure the seat means 21 to the beam 16, utilizing any selected opening 45.

In the example shown, the link means 17 comprises a pair of spaced-apart, but facing, elongated links 50, a single shorter link 51,-pivot means 52 connecting the inner end portions of the links 50 and 51, pivot means 53 connectingthe outer end portions ofthe links 50 to the outerend portion of the arm 41 and pivot means 54 connecting the outer end portion of the link 51 to the upper end parts of the members 25 at their portions 26. The pivot means '52 may be a pin provided with a plurality Patented Feb. 15,

of spacedapart transverse openings to receive cotter pins or the like, with the pin extending through any pair of aligning spaced-apart openings 55 in the inner end portions of the links 50 and through an opening in the innet end of the link 51. This pin also supports thelike ends of a pair of springs which preferably provide the reset means 19. The pivot means 53and -54 may be suitable bolts and nuts, the shank of one bolt extending through suitable openings in the outer end portions of the arm 41 and links 50 and the shank of the other bolt extending through suitable openings in the outer end portion of the link 51 and upper end parts of the members 25 at their portions 26. The respective nuts and bolt heads bear against the outer faces of their associated links 50 and portions 26, as the case may be. Thus, the links 50 and 51'bridge the space between the outer end portion of the arm 41 and upper end parts of the members 25, with the longitudinal axes of the links converging slightly upwardly, as in Figure 1, so that the links will be slightly oif dead center, but the links are capable offorming angles of various degrees, such as the acute angle of Figure 2.

The bumper means 18 is best shown in Figure 6, and illustrated in action in Figure 1. It includes a bearing 55 which may be a plate welded or otherwise rigidly secured across the upper end of the spacer member 28 of the frame 15, a second bearing 56 wh ch may be substantially like the bearing 55 and extends crosswise the travel of the under edge of the link 51 intermediate the ends of the latter, with a face of this bearing 56 and a face of the bearing 55 confronting. The bumper means 18 also includes a pair of expansion spiral springs 57 with their ends bearing against the confronting faces of the bearings 55 and 56 and through the springs extend the bolt shanks (one for each spring) of bolts 56 with the shanks also slidably extending through aligning openings in the bearing 56 and the protruding free end portions of the shanks receiving nuts on each side of the bearing 55 to retain the bolt shanks rigid therewith. It is preferred to provide a bevel 59 at the rearward side edge of thhe bearing 56 for a purpose detailed in the next paragrap Reset means 19 for the beam 16 and earthworking element B after it has been moved away from an obstruction, as the obstruction F, preferably comprises an expansible and contractable means such as a pair of contraction helical springs with their lower end portions carried by suitable means such as bolts 60, with their shanks extending through suitable openings in the portions 27 of the members 25 adjacent their lower ends. Suitable nuts are provided for the bolts 60. The springs are under some tension at all times but the greatest is when the parts are in positions such as in Figure 2 and to prevent damage to the springs by an otherwise sharp edge of the bearing 56. the bevel 59 is provided, and functions as is clear in Figure 2.

The sub-frame or second frame 20 preferably comprises a pair of short spaced-apart members 65 which may be short lengths of angle iron (but each longer than the transverse length of a tool bar for example), each including a portion 66 facing a portion 27 of the main frame 15 and a portion 67 facing the opposite portion 67. Preferably adjacent the lower rear corners of the portions 67 are axially aligned perforations to receive a pivot means 68 as a bolt shank which also extends through a suitable opening in the free end portion of the arm 43 and is provided with a suitable nut. Because the portions 67 are spaced apart, a slot 69 is provided. The frame 15 and sub-frame 20 provide a framestructure.

The set means 21 for the beam 16 and earthworking element B preferably includes a contraction helical spring with its upper end secured, as by the hook at the upper end portion of the spring, to a rockable member 70 pivotally carried, as by a pivot 71 (as a bolt shank) extending through it and suitable axially aligned openings in the two links 50 intermediate their ends. The other end portion of the spring of the means 21 issecured to the projection 44 from the arm 43 as by hooking the end portion of the spring into any selected opening 45 in the proiection 44, and, because the distance of each opening 45 from the links 50 varies,'as is clear in Figure 3, the tension upon the spring may be increased or decreased. V

The means 22 to mount an earthworking element B- on the beam 16 may vary, depending in part upon the shape of the element, but preferably comprises an element support face 75 at the free end portion of the arm 40 and nut and bolt assemblies 76 with the shanks adapted to extend through suitable openings from the face 75 through the arm 40 and suitable aligning openings 95 in the element B. Generally, the element B projects forwardly from the surface 75.

In the example shown the vehicle C, shown as a conventional tractor, has a support in the nature of a tool bar 80, horizontally disposed and of polygonal (as square) transverse section, with adjacent faces of the bar 80 inclined from the horizontal and vertical as. for example, in Figures 1 and 10, and, in order to detachably secure the newautomatically-actuated element-mounting means A to the tool bar 80, mounting means D may he provided comprising suitable nut and bolt assemblies with the shanks of the bolts extending through suitable openings in the frame 15 at the intermediate parts of the portions 27 of the members 25 and in the sub-frame 20 at the portions 66 and the nuts tightened so that the parts are in positions as in Figure 10 In the event a tool bar 81, as in Figure 8 is encountered, the mounting means E may be employed. Here the bolt and nut assemblies differ as to length of shank and spacer 91, a pair of short angle irons may be provided to compensate for the differences in the space between the portions 27 of the members 25 and upper face of the tool bar 81 of Figure 8 are concerned.

In either case, the normal earthworking position of the element B will be substantially as in Figure l, with a vertical line from the pivot means 68 intersecting the element and this line forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axes of the arms 40 and 41 of the beam 16, which axes, in turn, normally form acute angles with the surface of the soil being worked. The position of this pivot means 68 with respect to the element B and the position of the beam 16 with respect to the soil surface provide means which enables the element B to be easily pulled through the soil. Moreover, because the element B is normally directly under the pivot means 68 of the beam, the element B tends to lift up the soil and much of the weight is transferred to the tool bar and thence to the ground wheels supporting the latter.

When an obstruction F is encountered the reaction thereto of the means A is quick and positive. The point of the element B will not hang on the obstruction F but sweeps rearwardly in an are, then rides over the top of the obstruction and the subsequent operations of the set means 21 will cause the element to be forced into the soil again to the desired depth. This is due partly to the spring and partly to the abutment of the arm 43 (at its juncture with the portion 42 of the beam 16) with the abutment member 30 of the frame 15.

The arm 43 rides along the slots 34 and 69, from its position in Figure l to and from its position in Figure 2. and the walls of the slots tend to prevent side sway of the beam 16.

In Figure ll is shown three of the new means A mounted upon the tool bar 80 of a vehicle C. Obviously a greater or less number than three of the new means A may be employed and, of course, various earthworking elements B capable of earthworking desired may be used.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. An automatically-oscillated mounting for an earthworking element, said mounting including an upwardlyextending frame structure provided with spaced-apart substantially parallel elongated members of L-shaped transverse section with one like wall of each defining a slot, a spacer between a part of each of said one like walls defining said slot and secured to said one like walls, said spacer extending outwardly of each of said one like walls, and an abutment and frame members connectingmember bridging a pair of the other like walls of said members adjacent the lower ends thereof; a beam including a downwardly-and-forwardly-extending elementcarrying arm, a link-carrying arm rigid with and extending away from said first arm and an elongated pivoted arm forming an acute angle with said first arm and rigid therewith, an edge of said pivoted arm forming a contact edge for said abutment member; mountingmeansend portion of said frame structure; bumper means for said linkage rigidly mounted upon said spacer and disposed in the downward path of travel of said linkage;

means pivotally mounting said elongated arm, at the free end portion thereof, upon said frame structure intermediate said abutment and the pivotal connection of said linkage and frame structure; means carried by said frame structure and said linkage to yieldably urge said edge into contact with said abutment; and means mounting said frame structure upon a support.

2. A mounting according to claim 1, characterized in that said support is a substantially horizontally disposed one, and said last-named means mounts said frame structure with the longitudinal axis of said pivot intersecting a vertical line which intersects said element.

3. A mounting according to claim 1, characterized in that said spacer and bumper means are directly above and closely adjacent the last-named means of claim 1.

4. An automatically-oscillated mounting for an earthworking element, said mounting including an upwardlyextending elongated frame structure having an elongated slot at the lower portion thereof and a combined cross member and abutment adjacent the lower end of said slot; an elongated beam comprising a lowermost arm, an uppermost arm and an elongated arm integral with the uppermost and lowermost arms and with its longitudinal axis forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of 30 the lowermost arm, said elongated arm being in longitudinal and transverse sliding contact with the walls of said slot and normally in contact with said abutment and having an outer end; pivot means at the outer end of said elongated arm remote from said combined cross member and abutment and below said slot and carried by said frame structure, whereby said combined cross member and abutment functions as a stop for said elongated arm in pivotal movement in one direction of said elongated arm; means for mounting an earthworking element upon said lowermost arm; link means between said uppermost arm and frame structure; means carried by said link means and frame structure to yieldably move said elongated arm into contact with said abutment; and means for mounting said frame structure upon a substantially horizontally-disposed support.

5. An automatically-oscillated mounting for an earthworking element according to claim 4 characterized in that the longitudinal axis of said elongated arm forms an obtuse angle with the longitudinal axis of the uppermost arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,390 Howe et a1. Nov. 21, 1899 837,335 Nelson et al Dec. 4, 1906 903,867 Kalkhurst Nov. 17, 1908 999,877 Rowell Aug. 8, 1911 1,502,832 Kirtlan July 29, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS 106,467 Australia J an. 20, 1939 

